Dual wheel lug wrench



Nov. 6, 1951 c, A, PECHACEK 2,574,156

DUAL WHEEL LUG WRENCH Filed Jan, '14, 1949 7 if a INVEN c. A. .PECHA K ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1951 .1

UNITED This invention relatestotoo1s,-and mcre-particularlyto a wrench-adapted for'iise i'n removing 'oi'"replacing the outer "lugof a' dil'el vel-n'eel such as commonly employed with'trucks-and the like.

In the usual construction of a dual wheel,- the 'It'ig of theinner wheel, which is-ef smaller size than-that of the outer-"wheel, extends-axially beyo'nd the-oute'r wheel" lug, so -tha tit is di'ilicult to steady or-maintain the au nme'nter a wrench applied to the outer wheel lug for rotating '--the same. As it is necessary 'touse relatively great force-in loosening and tightening a wheel lug, and as the surface contact between the lug and the wrench is not great, some means for assisting the maintenance of the axial align-ment of the wrench and lug is desired. It is necessary that the aligning or supporting means used with this type of lug be of such constructioh'that it does not bind through contact with the inner wheel lug nor apply rotative -force thereto.

'Wrenches for dual wheels havebeen employed heretofore, some having been i provided "an aiiiilia'ry socketfor theinner 'wheel lug which -is attached to an arm-extending beyond the wrench.

This is arather complex structure, howevenJ-arid the additional handle is likelyto interfere with the use of the wrench.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present inventioh to provide-a Wrench-adapted to be applied to the outer lug of a dual wheel assembly in order that substantial force may be applied to rotate the lug and in which specific means is provided for facilitating the maintenance of the alignment of the wrench with the lug.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a lug wrench for a dual wheel having an auxiliary socket for the inner lug which is freely rotatable relative to the socket for the outer lug.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a simple, sturdy, lug wrench for a dual wheel in which aligning and steadying means are provided for the wrench which do not interfere with the inner lug.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the head of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a portion in section showing its use with a convenional dual wheel asembly;

Fig. 2, a perspective of the bushing; and,

Figs. 3 and 4, views similar to Fig. 1, of modifled forms of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a wrench is illus- 'trated havinga shank H3 anda head portion'll joined "to the shank by an "enlarged portion P2 provided with 'anaperture '13 for receiving'a "turn bar orthe like. The head H is provided 'witha relatively -large"opeiring or socket "M'at its outer end which is. preferablyof a "hexagonal" configwratiorrto-receive a'conventional lug 15. The lug'is "attached "to *a conventional fastening element "or bolt l s extending from an outer'wheel-of "a dual wheel "mounting assembly. iA 'smaller lug H of conventional type-isattached to a' boltwhich extends axially through the bolt [6 andisat- 'tache'dto the-inner wheel'of the assembly.

7 An-opening-or socket 18 of smaller siz'e than the socket- M and a-xiallyaligned therewith ispro vided in' the head-and a third opening or socket I 9 -eittend's axially "beyond 1 the opening 18, the openings f4, wand-l9 presenting a 'stepped arran'g'em'ent of sockets of decreasing diameter. The '-surfaces-defining the openings 1 3 and 1 9 are preferably cylindrical.

Eositioned within the opening "[8 is a bushing zfi having-a'n outer cylindricalsurface 2| which-is "of-slightly smaller size than the opening 18 in order that it ma-y revolve in "the opening. The bushing has an axial 'aperture 23 adapted 'to- 'enga'gelthe wrench engaging surfaces of the lug I1, as for example thesquare cross section illustrated =i-n F-ig..'2.

In order to retain the bushing 20 in the opening I8, a retaining ring 24 is provided which is pressed into the opening I4 and has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the bushing but which is larger than the aperture 23.

In the operation of the device, the lug wrench is applied to the lug l5 and the lug I1 is received within the aperture '23 of the bushing 20. When a turning force is applied to the wrench, as by means of a bar through the opening l3, the alignment of the wrench and the studs is assisted by engagement of the bushing 20 with the lug I1. As the bushing is free to turn within the wrench, turning of the wrench in order to rotate the lug I5 is possible without rotating the lug II. It is therefore apparent that additional support for the wrench is provided by means of the rotatable bushing 20. The countersunk recess or cavity I9 permits the end of the lug l1 and its bolt to project beyond the bushing 20 without contacting the body of the wrench.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the

opening 18' for receiving the bushing 25 is tapered, or of frusto-conical configuration to receive the bushing which has sides of similar shape. By using this modification the bushing is relatively easier to position in the opening but operates in the same manner a the form shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4, a still further modification is shown, in which the bushing 25 is adapted to rotate within a cage 2! and anti-friction means such as ball bearings 28 are provided for reducing the frictional resistance to rotation of the bushing. Although the bearings shownare of the ball bearing type, obviously other types are contemplated, such as the pin, roller, or needle types. The cage 21 is positioned in the socket 18 by suitable means such as a press fit or the like, in

outer wheel lug and the inner wheel lug received in the bushing in order that axial alignment of the wrench and lugs may be maintained during application of a turning force solely to the outer wheel lug.

2. A dual wheel lug wrench comprising a head for engagement with the lugs, the head having a first relatively large socket for engaging the outer wheel lug, a second relatively smaller socket axially aligned with the first socket, a bushing entirely contained and rotatably received within said second socket and having an aperture of a size and configuration to snugly receive the inner wheel lug, and a third socket smaller than the second socket and axially aligned there- -with to receive a portion of the inner wheel lug and bolt extending through said bushing,

" whereby the bushing assists in maintaining the for removing the outer wheel lug of a dual wheel mounting assembly and includes a rotatable bushing in the head of the wrench adapted to rotatably receive the inner wheel lug in order that the axial alignment of the wrench and lugs may be maintained.

It'will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited to that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dual wheel lug wrench for application to the lugs of a dual wheel assembly comprising a shank, a head attached to the shank, and an intermediate apertured portion between the head and the shank for receiving a turning bar, a first socket at the extremity of the head for receiving an outer wheel lug, a second socket further in the head and axially aligned with the first socket and of smaller diameter, a bushing entirely contained and rotatably mounted in said second socket and having an aperture of a, size and configuration to snugly receive the inner wheel lug, means for retaining said bushing in said second socket, and a third socket of smaller diameter than said second socket to receive the extremity of the inner wheel lug and bolt extending through said bushing, whereby the Wrench may be applied to the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 956,467 Anderson Apr. 26, 1910 1,424,235 Bronander Aug. 1, 1922 1,507,362 Bartosik Sept. 2, 1924 2,181,678 Wright Nov. 28, 1939 2,417,598 Jones Mar. 18, 1947 2,497,789 Mueller Feb. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,746 Great Britain Oct. 4, 1897 

